Former Corporate Executive Pleads Guilty To Multimillion-Dollar Insider Trading Scheme

 

Former Chief Revenue Officer Paul Jorgensen Admits to Repeated Illegal Trading in Doximity in Advance of Quarterly Earnings Calls

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today that PAUL JORGENSEN pled guilty to committing securities fraud in connection with a multimillion-dollar scheme to trade in stock and options of Doximity based on inside information in advance of the company’s quarterly earnings calls.  JORGENSEN pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.   

“Paul Jorgensen repeatedly used Doximity’s confidential information to trade in advance of the company’s quarterly earnings calls, earning himself more than $2.5 million in illegal profits,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Corporate executives should be working for the benefit of the companies and shareholders they serve, not scheming to line their own pockets by trading on inside information.  Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to protect our financial markets and prosecute those who misuse non-public information.” 

“Paul Jorgensen repeatedly leveraged nonpublic information to conduct illegal trades from an unauthorized personal account, garnering millions of dollars in illicit proceeds,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia.  “The defendant’s actions greatly exploited his position of trust for his own personal gain, even as he learned he was likely to be terminated from the company.  May today’s plea emphasize the FBI’s commitment to protect companies from internal executives who prioritize personal wealth over their duty to company shareholders.”

According to the allegations contained in the Information and statements made in public court proceedings:

JORGENSEN engaged in a scheme to reap illegal profits by trading on material non-public information regarding Doximity, a publicly traded company, in violation of the duties of trust and confidence owed to the company and its shareholders.

Doximity is an online networking service for medical professionals that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “DOCS.”  JORGENSEN joined Doximity in 2017 and became Chief Revenue Officer in 2022.  As a senior executive at Doximity, JORGENSEN had access to confidential information about Doximity’s financial outlook, performance, and earnings results, and owed a duty of trust and confidence to the company.  Doximity restricted its employees from trading in the lead-up to the company’s quarterly earnings calls, and from engaging in options trading.  Doximity further required all employees to hold their Doximity shares in company-monitored brokerage accounts.

In July 2022, as Chief Revenue Officer, JORGENSEN became aware that Doximity’s add-on sales to clients, referred to as “upsells,” had declined over the previous quarter.  On July 28, 2022, JORGENSEN attended a Board meeting in advance of the upcoming earnings call in which the company’s negative results were discussed.  Following the Board meeting, JORGENSEN texted a close family member that he was “[n]ot selling [his] DOCS shares” because he had “non-public confidential info and it’s just not right to sell.”  Two days later, however, after JORGENSEN learned that he had been reassigned to a sales role at the company, JORGENSEN texted the same family member that he “decided to sell [his] DOCS shares” because he needed to “protect us first and foremost.”  The following day, JORGENSEN sold 61,162 shares of Doximity that he secretly held in a personal brokerage account.

During the company’s quarterly earnings call on August 4, 2022, Doximity publicly announced its negative results regarding upsells and lowered its annual guidance by six percent.  Doximity’s share price fell by approximately seven percent, and JORGENSEN avoided losses of more than $300,000.

In 2023, JORGENSEN again traded based on Doximity’s confidential information.  In July 2023, JORGENSEN became aware that Doximity’s upsells had continued to decline over the previous quarter.  In addition, on July 13, 2023, JORGENSEN learned that he was being terminated as part of a larger round of layoffs, and that the layoffs would be announced on the company’s upcoming quarterly earnings call.  In advance of the earnings call, JORGENSEN sold 15,000 shares of Doximity stock, earning $114,000 in illicit profits, and 1,300 call options, earning an additional $200,000 in illicit profits.  JORGENSEN also purchased 4,700 put options using his personal brokerage account.

During the company’s quarterly earnings call on August 8, 2023, Doximity publicly announced its company layoffs and negative results regarding upsells and lowered its annual guidance by eight to nine percent.  Doximity’s share price fell by approximately 23 percent.  Following the earnings call, JORGENSEN closed out his put position, earning nearly two million dollars in illicit profits.  JORGENSEN was terminated from Doximity in August 2023.

JORGENSEN, 53, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pled guilty to two counts of securities fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.           

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  JORGENSEN is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Failla on May 21, 2026.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI.  Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its cooperation and assistance in this investigation. 

The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.

Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration for Illegally Suspending New York’s Offshore Wind Projects

 

Stop-Work Orders for Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind Projects Threaten Jobs, New York City’s Energy Grid, and Statewide Climate Progress

AG James Files Two Federal Lawsuits Alleging Disastrous Stop-Work Orders Are Unlawful and Must be Blocked

New York Attorney General Letitia James today filed two lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful attempt to halt construction on a pair of major offshore wind projects that are expected to power more than one million New York homes. Late last month, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) abruptly issued stop-work orders to the New York-based Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind projects, directing them to immediately suspend all construction due to undisclosed “national security” concerns. Attorney General James argues that these orders are arbitrary and unwarranted, as both projects underwent years of extensive national security and safety reviews, and pausing these projects could threaten New York’s economy and energy grid. She is asking the court to intervene to block the administration’s stop-work orders.

“New Yorkers deserve clean, reliable energy, good-paying jobs, and a government that follows the law,” said Attorney General James. “These projects were carefully reviewed and already under construction when the federal government pulled the plug without explanation. This reckless decision puts workers, families, and our climate goals at risk, and my office is taking action to stop it.”

“New York will not back down in our fight for a clean energy future and I commend Attorney General James for taking this action to lift the unlawful stop work orders on New York’s two offshore wind projects under construction,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “The Trump administration's incomprehensible obsession with shutting down these fully permitted projects lacks legal justification, hurts his stated goal of U.S. energy independence, and will cost New York thousands of jobs and needed power to keep the lights on and attract economic development opportunities. These unlawful actions cannot stand.”

“Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind are critical large-scale electricity projects for New York state,” said New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “Together, they will generate more than 1,700 megawatts of power—enough to meet roughly 10 percent of the electricity needs of New York City and Long Island. Federal actions are once again putting New York’s energy reliability, affordability, and clean energy progress at risk. These projects are essential to support the reliability of our electrical grid, local jobs and economic development, and delivery of affordable, clean power New Yorkers depend on. I commend Attorney General James and Governor Hochul for standing up for New York as we continue to fight for an affordable, abundant, reliable, and clean energy future for our state.”

The Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind projects are offshore wind projects being built off the coast of Long Island. The Sunrise Wind project, located approximately 30 miles east of Montauk, is currently under construction and is expected to power approximately 600,000 New York homes. The Empire Wind project, also currently under construction, is located approximately 14 miles southeast of Long Island and is expected to power more than 500,000 homes. Empire Wind would be the first offshore wind project to deliver power directly to New York City, strengthening the energy grid in one of the most energy-constrained areas of the country. Construction on the projects is ongoing, and both have already made substantial progress. Thousands of workers are currently employed on or have recently been employed on these projects, and billions of dollars have already been invested.

Before construction began, the projects underwent more than a decade of extensive review by federal, state, and local authorities, including environmental impact analysis, public comment periods, and coordination with numerous federal agencies, including the Department of Defense. Federal regulators repeatedly determined that the projects complied with all legal requirements and that any potential impacts, including national security considerations, could be addressed through mitigation measures that were formally incorporated into the projects’ approvals.

On December 22, however, DOI ordered both projects to immediately suspend all construction activity for at least 90 days, citing vague and unexplained “national security” concerns based on classified information. The stop-work orders provided no project-specific findings, offered no explanation for why existing safeguards were insufficient, and left open the possibility of indefinite extensions. The orders came just weeks after Attorney General James secured a federal court ruling invalidating a broader federal freeze on wind energy approvals, raising serious concerns that the administration is attempting to revive an unlawful policy through new means.

Attorney General James argues that the stop-work orders will have immediate and severe consequences, including significant economic harm throughout New York. Together, the projects support thousands of union jobs, billions of dollars in private and public investment, and major infrastructure improvements in communities across Long Island and New York City. Halting construction risks delaying or permanently derailing the projects, jeopardizing contracts, local tax revenue, workforce training programs, and long-term economic development tied to New York’s clean energy transition.

Attorney General James also asserts that the administration’s actions will harm New Yorkers’ health and wallets. Delaying or derailing these clean energy projects would prolong New York City and Long Island’s reliance on the region’s decades-old fossil-fuel plants, which send significant pollution into communities and result in higher energy costs for consumers. The delay would also threaten the state’s ability to meet its legally mandated clean energy targets, including achieving 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and a zero-emissions electric grid by 2040.

In her lawsuits, filed simultaneously today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Attorney General James argues that the stop-work orders fail to explain the federal government’s change in position and to provide a genuine justification for the suspension, making them arbitrary and capricious, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. She is asking the court to declare the stop-work orders unlawful and block their enforcement.

Governor Hochul Announces More Than $101 Million in Grants Awarded to Rail and Port Infrastructure Projects Statewide

Funding Supports 25 Projects Enhancing Reliability and Resiliency of Major Trade Corridors Across New York State

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that over $101 million in state funding has been awarded to support 25 projects across New York that will modernize key freight lines and port facilities under the state’s Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program (PFRAP). This investment will enhance the reliability and resiliency of major trade corridors while also supporting the governor’s nation-leading agenda to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. The projects focus on track and bridge rehabilitation, capacity expansion, procurement of cleaner rail equipment, and the modernization and expansion of rail infrastructure in freight yards and at seaport facilities.

“New York’s freight rail network is vital to our economy, and these investments represent a downpayment on a greener, safer and more productive state,” Governor Hochul said. “New York is a national leader in freight rail, which is a fuel-efficient method to transport goods throughout the state and across the country. Investing in key freight infrastructure is a step forward in reducing New York’s emissions while modernizing our rail system.”

The winning projects include $1.7 million to connect a grain facility to the Finger Lakes Railway in Waterloo; $3.2 million to establish direct rail access to the South Buffalo Railroad at the UFP facility in Lackawanna; $4.6 million for bridge and track rehabilitation on the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad; and $1.6 million to enhance rail infrastructure in Sangerfield for improved access to local and international markets.

The New York City Department of Small Business Services (NYCSBS) and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) have each received two $10 million awards. The NYCSBS will use its funding for two projects: building a fully electrified maritime hub in Hunts Point and rehabilitating Pier 10 to support the Red Hook Container Terminal. The LIRR’s two awards will fund upgrades to the Fresh Pond Yard and English Kills bridges to meet modern loading and clearance standards.

The Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program is administered by the New York State Department of Transportation and funds projects that support the safe movement of freight goods, improve service reliability to retain and grow manufacturing jobs, and support economic development. Winning projects were selected through a competitive solicitation process and rated based on established criteria including a benefit cost analysis, adherence to regional economic development plans, safety enhancements, compatibility with other private and public investments, and actions that enhance resilience and reduce climate risk.

Eligible project activities included track and bridge rehabilitation; yard, terminal and siding construction; elimination of clearance obstructions; wharf, dock and bulkhead construction and reconstruction; dredging; at-grade crossing railroad crossing resurfacing; material handling equipment storage facilities; wayside detectors and other projects that enhance the safe movement of goods, economic competitiveness and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Port and Freight Rail Infrastructure Projects List

Capital Region – $6,523,386

• $4,203,111 to Pan Am Southern, LLC for rehabilitation of the Rotterdam Branch. The project will install continuous welded rail, replace cross ties, turnouts, and ballasts, and surface five miles of track to allow for an increase in maximum allowable speed from 10 to 25 mph along the full length of the branch.
• $555,655 to Corinth & Hudson Railway LLC to install new railroad ties and replace the crossing surface. The project will maintain the railroad at Class 2 conditions so it can continue delivering high-quality passenger rail services for 37,000 annual users.
• $464,620 to Albany Port Railroad Corp to offset cost increases for its Tier 4-compliant switch locomotive, replacing its current Tier 0 unit. The project will reduce fuel use, lower NOx, PM, and CO2 emissions, and generate economic benefits exceeding the investment.
• $1,300,000 to NYSDOT for the Hudson Line Passive Crossing Improvement Project, which will upgrade passive crossings with active warning devices. The project will enhance the safety and reliability of Amtrak service by reducing the potential for rail-vehicle and rail-pedestrian interactions and will strengthen safety and security for the surrounding areas.

Central New York Region – $3,729,375

• $3,729,375 to New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway for the construction of 5,280 feet of new track and two turnouts to be used as a Serving Yard Track in Onondaga County. The project will support the growth of regional rail traffic including the Syracuse Interchange with CSX.

Finger Lakes Region – $20,430,243

• $5,964,817 to Rochester & Southern Railroad for the replacement of the Oatka Creek Bridge as well as tie replacement on the RSRR main line. The project will enhance infrastructure and improve economic competitiveness.
• $3,076,338 to Rochester & Southern Railroad to replace the Spring Creek Bridge with a new substructure and superstructure, perform tie replacement, and rehabilitate three grade crossing surfaces. The project will enhance infrastructure and improve economic competitiveness.
• $1,771,805 to Seneca County IDA to connect a grain facility to the Finger Lakes Railway in Waterloo, NY, improving freight access for local producers. The project will reduce truck traffic and emissions while increasing efficiency and supporting agricultural viability.
• $3,323,623 to Wyoming County IDA to construct and install additional rail spurs, pads, switches, and driveways to increase the capacity of the Wyoming Transfer Station. The project will improve overall efficiency and create opportunities for continued growth.
• $1,734,000 to Arcade and Attica Railroad Corp to make necessary upgrades and replacements while preventing railroad closure, as businesses in the local economy rely heavily on the railroad.
• $4,559,660 to Livingston County IDA for the construction of the Jaguar Tubulars New Rail Facility, which will allow for the loading and unloading of rolled coil steel from railcars. The project will increase job growth, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower the number of trucks traveling on highways.

Mohawk Valley – $5,363,134

• $3,029,850 to Mohawk Adirondack & Northern Railroad to upgrade the yard ladders in the Utica Yard with new, heavier rail. The project will increase capacity and durability while enhancing safety.
• $673,300 to Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society to expand its rail facilities in Cooperstown Junction, NY by acquiring additional real estate for a run-around track and equipment storage facilities adjacent to its property. The property acquisition and new tracks will enable operations to expand eight miles south of Milford to Cooperstown Junction, where there is an interchange with Norfolk Southern Railway.
• $1,659,984 to Oneida County IDA for the Sangerfield Rail Efficiency Project, which will enhance rail infrastructure for efficient grain and feed loading and unloading, improving access to profitable local and international markets. The project will enable the movement of weighed commodities by rail, benefiting local producers and the broader New York region.

New York City – $40,000,000

• $10,000,000 to New York City Department of Small Business Services for the Hunts Point Marine Terminal Development Project, which will support a new fully electrified maritime hub while also reducing GHG emissions, creating jobs, and mitigating congestion. This grant will fund electric infrastructure (to support electric cargo handling equipment charging and shore power), new operational facilities, and enhanced site security.
• $10,000,000 to New York City Department of Small Business Services to rehabilitate and extend the functional life of Pier 10, which is key to the critical operational needs of the Red Hook Container Terminal and hundreds of waterfront jobs.
• $10,000,000 to Long Island Rail Road to replace the LIRR Fresh Pond Yard Bridge with a new structure that meets all modern loading and clearance standards. The project will ensure continued movement of nearly all freight rail on and off Long Island and accommodate future growth.
• $10,000,000 to Long Island Rail Road to rehabilitate the LIRR English Kills Bridge to meet modern loading and clearance standards. The project will ensure continued movement of freight rail to a key yard in Brooklyn and accommodate future growth.

North Country – $7,283,124

• $5,663,124 to Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority to replace approximately 10 miles of rail, one turnout, four private crossings, and line/surface track, as well as continue bridge rehabilitation to upgrade a segment of the Ogdensburg Branch to accommodate industry-standard 286k cars.
• $1,620,000 to St. Lawrence IDA to rehabilitate track, reconstruct grade crossings, and improve transloading capabilities to maintain and expand rail service.

Western New York – $17,749,221

• $4,392,639 to Erie County IDA for the Welded Tube USA Rail Spur Project, which will construct a new rail spur to support the operation of Welded Tube USA. The rail spur will enable the efficient transport of products, thereby reducing truck loads and emissions.
• $1,745,815 to Erie County IDA for the Buffalo Southern Railroad Track Improvement Project, which will restore five miles of rail corridor on the Buffalo Southern Railroad Main line. Upgrades include replacing failing timber deck, missing stone ballast, and a concrete culvert, as well as rehabilitating siding to return the track to a FRA Class 2 status for improved safety, efficiency and reliability.
• $3,645,000 to Falls Road Railroad Company to replace aging rail in the mainline and use the released material to construct new sidings to improve capacity. The project will increase safety and capacity of the Falls Road Railroad.
• $3,284,640 to South Buffalo Railway Company to establish direct rail access at the UFP facility in Lackawanna, NY, by constructing three new rail spurs that connect to the South Buffalo Railroad (SBRR), reducing truck traffic, lowering emissions, and enhancing operational efficiency.
• $4,681,127 to Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad to replace over 21,000 feet of rail, repair four bridges, rehabilitate four turnouts, and improve nine grade crossings on the BPRR Main Line and Machias Secondary between Buffalo and the Pennsylvania state line. The project will avoid slow orders and contribute to a state of good repair along the line.

About the Department of Transportation

It is the mission of the New York State Department of Transportation to provide a safe, reliable, equitable and resilient transportation system that connects communities, enhances quality of life, protects the environment and supports the economic well-being of New York State.

Lives are on the line; slow down and move over for highway workers!

For more information, find us on Facebook, follow us on X or Instagram, or visit the DOT website. For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.

Mayor Mamdani Joins Under the Radar Theater Festival to Give Away 1,500 Free Tickets in Commitment to Making Arts and Culture Accessible to All

 

Mamdani handed out free tickets in Flatbush to college students, local residents on Friday 

TODAY, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined Under the Radar theater festival in promoting their major free ticket giveaway, which will make 1,500 free tickets available to participating shows at theaters across the city in January as part of the “Under the Radar for All” effort. Under the Radar, America's largest theater festival, includes more than 25 new shows from innovative artists across the globe, presented in partnership with a vibrant community of partner venues across the five boroughs. As a part of Mayor Mamdani’s commitment to making the arts accessible to working New Yorkers, he helped distribute tickets to students and neighbors outside of the Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College, where the festival is presenting RECONSTRUCTING. New Yorkers can claim their free tickets at UTRfest.org/under-the-radar-for-all while they are available. Photos of the ticket giveaway are available on the NYC Mayor’s Office Flickr page. 

 

Just nine days into the Administration, Mayor Mamdani has already turned his laser-focus on the affordability crisis into meaningful improvements in the lives of New Yorkers. From cracking down on bad landlords and junk fees to fixing dangerous bike infrastructure to helping deliver more than $1B towards universal childcare alongside Governor Hochul, the Mayor is fighting hard for the city New Yorkers deserve. This commitment extends beyond rent and childcare – to the plays, comedy shows, and art exhibits every New Yorker deserves.  

 

“The arts are too often considered a luxury for the wealthy or a treat for the tourists, rather than a form of expression, joy, and relaxation that every New Yorker deserves,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “I am grateful for Under the Radar’s generosity and their work to share the experience of live theater citywide and am ready to build upon these efforts to make art accessible and affordable across our five boroughs.” 

 

“Under the Radar has long been committed to building a creative ecosystem habitable for the many, not the few. If Shakespeare is free, so should contemporary performance. That belief is beautifully reflected in the myriad partner organizations coming together behind the belief that non-commercial art and international perspectives matter deeply. The stats–31 shows across 24 venues–are one thing, but they are meaningless without adventurous audiences in multiple boroughs bringing the festival to life. We are deeply grateful to Mayor Mamdani and his team for helping us bring so many more people to the party,” said Under the Radar Founding Artistic Director Mark Russell.  

 

“We are in the business of tending how ideas move between people and in the world. Theater at its best is a model of participatory society. Over the last 3 years, Under the Radar has continued expanding into a plurality of voices and perspectives. We are thrilled to gather with the Mayor to expand and meet the civic duty of the arts – reaching representative publics,” said Under the Radar Co-Director Kaneza Schaal. 

 

About the Under the Radar Theater Festival: 

 

For over two decades, the Under the Radar theater festival has brought bold, risk-taking work to New York City, celebrating groundbreaking theater and performance both from around the world and from just down the street. Produced in partnership with venues across the city, the festival showcases innovative multidisciplinary artists whose work speaks powerfully to the present. UTR's 21st season, running January 7 to January 25, convenes a lineup of more than 30 productions at 25 separate venues, including Lincoln Center, La MaMa, PSNY, New York Theater Workshop, Japan Society, and Mabou Mines. 2026 marks Under the Radar's third year as a citywide collaboration, informed by the multiplicity of vision of our partner institutions’ artistic leaders. This season features the most exclusively Under the Radar-commissioned and produced work offered yet. 2026 also inaugurates a new leadership model in which Co-Creative Directors Meropi Peponides and Kaneza Schaal join Founder and Artistic Director Mark Russell to form the first of what will be a rotating cohort of festival curators, ensuring the festival’s programming is forever of-the-moment. The festival is produced by Thomas O. Kriegsmann and Sami Pyne of ArKtype. Find out more at utrfest.org.

Permits Filed for 508 Bolton Avenue in Soundview, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a four-story residential building at 508 Bolton Avenue in Soundview, The Bronx. Located between Lacombe Avenue and Randall Avenue, the lot is near the Parkchester Avenue subway station, served by the 6 train. Shimon Neuman of Madison Tower LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 45-foot-tall development will yield 7,468 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have ten residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 745 square feet. The steel-based structure will also have a basement but no accessory parking.

Leandro Nils Dickson Architect, LLC is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

VCJC News & Notes 1/9/2026

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders

2. Shabbos schedule
   
   
   Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
   Here are the times you need:  
   Shabbos Candles Friday 1/9/26 @ 4:28 pm
   
   
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 1/10/26 @ 5:33 pm

   If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah please speak to one of the gabbaim.

   
   

   This week’s kiddush, featuring Teryaki salmon, roasted potatoes, broccoli-onion salad, pasta salad with dried red peppers, and of course, fresh gefilte fish, will add an extra boost to your Shabbos enjoyment. It’s sponsored by the VCJC.  Come join us for services and stay to enjoy the kiddush and the company.

   
   

3. About our new kiddushim
   For the past several weeks, the VCJC has upgraded its kiddush after Shabbos services. Kiddush now takes place in the ballroom. There is a greater variety of food, which can be enjoyed while seated at covered tables. Our aim is to offer a more enjoyable and meaningful experience, and to encourage conversation and interaction among attendees. This is an evolving effort. It has received very positive reviews so far; we’d love to have your opinion as well. Please join us for services and kiddush, and let us know what you think!
   
   
   Notes from last week’s kiddush

   Last week’s after-services kiddush was a lovely success, featuring traditional favorites like herring and gefilte fish, along with mixed fruits, cranberry and nut tuna salad, Israeli salad, tri-colored pasta salad, festive cookies, and other treats. Just as important, it offered a warm, relaxed setting for members to linger, talk, and enjoy one another’s company.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

4. Shabbos parsha

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Parashat Shemot 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת שְׁמוֹת

   10 January 2026 / 21 Tevet 5786

   Parashat Shemot is the 13th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.

   Torah Portion: Exodus 1:1-6:1

   Shemot (“Names”) is the first Torah reading in the Book of Exodus. It opens describing the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt. Moses is born, placed in a basket on the Nile, and adopted into Pharaoh’s household. He later encounters God at a burning bush and begins his mission of demanding that Pharoah let the Israelites go. [1]

   
   

   
   

5. Give VCJC a boost!  Leave a (positive) review for us on Google
   The VCJC is working to build and grow for its next century in Van Cortlandt Village.  If you have had a good experience with us or recognize our value to the community, please consider telling the world about it.  Go to our Google Business Profile and leave a review.  Thanks!

6. Please help with information about buildings

   As part of rebuilding the membership and congregation, the Board of Trustees would like your help. There are a lot of either new or renovated buildings being put up in our catchment area. We would like to seek the cooperation of the owners / developers of those properties in publicizing these opportunities to live near an orthodox synagogue.  If you are aware of any of these buildings, please provide what information you can about them.  This could include the address, any contact information that might be posted, and any information about the building itself (size, type, etc.). Additionally, if you are aware of vacancies in existing buildings or of houses for sale, please let us know about that as well.

   
   

   
   

7. 3rd annual Community Cleanup Day for MLK Day
   We received the following in an email and are passing it on for your information.

   “My name is Spence Weitzen, and I work for GrowTorah, where we do experiential & environmental Torah education. I hope you're doing well!

   
   

   I'm reaching out as we're hosting our 3rd annual Community Cleanup Day for MLK Day with the UJA Federation of NY & Westchester Parks Foundation on Monday, January 19th, which also happens to be Rosh Chodesh Shevat! Here's a link to the event page.

   
   

   The event will take place at the Bronx River Pathway. We've had hundreds of participants collect hundreds of pounds of trash in the past while honoring the legacy of Dr. MLK Jr. and preparing for Tu B'Shvat.”
   
   
   Their flyer is below.  The snow date is March 29, 2026. Note that the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center is a collaborator!

   
   

8. An Appeal from the Met Council for SNAP help

   
   

   See the VCJC blog post from the Met Council’s announcement.

   
   

Our mailing address is:
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
3880 Sedgwick Ave
Bronx, NY 10463

Key Member of Chinese Money Laundering Network Charged with Laundering Tens of Millions of Dollars in Drug Proceeds

 

Yan Lin, 41, of California, made an initial appearance in Cincinnati on charges of conspiracy to launder tens of millions of dollars derived from drug trafficking proceeds.

According to the indictment unsealed today, between March 2022 and October 2024, Mexico-based drug traffickers hired Lin to return tens of millions of dollars in profits from the sale of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in cities throughout the United States to Mexico. Lin arranged for his co-conspirators to deliver bulk cash to others who bought electronics that were shipped to co-conspirators in Hong Kong, China, and elsewhere. After confirmation of receipt of the bulk cash, Mexico-based drug traffickers would receive their payment in Mexico, minus a commission, via a “mirror transaction.” One ledger, which recorded just a portion of Lin’s money contracts in 2024, totaled approximately $27.4 million in bulk cash delivered across the United States.

“As alleged in the indictment, the defendant laundered tens of millions of dollars in drug proceeds from the United States through China, enabling a continuous flow of dangerous drugs into our country from Mexico,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Dismantling Chinese money laundering networks that support drug trafficking organizations is critical to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations. The Criminal Division will relentlessly pursue the illicit financial networks that fuel and profit from these dangerous organizations.”

“Without money launderers, drug cartels are stuck with dirty money they can’t use,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio. “These profiteers help facilitate the distribution of deadly drugs into our communities and will be held accountable as if they trafficked the drugs themselves.”

“By targeting those who facilitate the movement of illicit proceeds, we are attacking the lifeblood of drug trafficking operations and protecting Americans,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit Field Office. “HSI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks who illegally use our nation’s financial infrastructure to funnel drugs into our communities.”

“Laundering drug trafficking money helps the cartels reap enormous profits while Americans are harmed by their dangerous drugs,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office. “Money laundering is a serious crime that the FBI and our partners will continue to investigate as we work to disrupt the flow of drugs and dismantle the dangerous cartels

Yan Lin is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and concealment money laundering. If convicted, Lin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

This case is being investigated by the HSI Cincinnati Office, IRS Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, including the New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, Tulsa and Atlanta offices, FBI Cincinnati, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Regional Enforcement Narcotics Unit. DEA’s Special Operations Division also aided the investigation.

Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Mingda Hang, and Trial Attorney Elizabeth Rabe of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Dornette for the Southern District of Ohio, are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.